Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-13


to her, but only holds out his hand as If
in welcome. In reality, the soft sweet
beauty of her has entered into him and
stricken him dumb. The lamps are shin
ing upon her starry eyes, her red parted
lips, her face so like flower. The
dainty, shy glance, that half bespeaks
the praise and half decries 1t; the lovely
kissable mouth, that would fain say,
cam / not good to look at, dear, my
loyeY'' yet breads to say it; tho bent, yet
proud little head, the tender, longing
smile, all appeal to him. His hand closes
upon hers. She is his at this moment,
whatever other forlorn times the years
may hold for him and her, and with the
eager hand clasp he leads her forward to
where the lamps shine clearest-to where
all may see how fair his love can be.
He turns to make some gay remark to
Millicent, still holding Madness hand,
but q glance at Miss Grey's face checks
him. She has grown positively Hvid.
She was full Of laughter just minute
ago. but now mirth has died from her and
her lips are all set and stern, her color
sg6astly. ~
"Take her away-anywhere! Into the
pressed but passionate command to Du-
ran. There Is no need for him to ask to
whom she alludes-her eyes are riveted
upon Nadine's neck, where the sapphire
pendant Is resting calmly. Duran, who
is a man quick to understand, scenting
danger in the air for her he loves draws
Nadine aside and presently takes her out
of the room. A little too late, however.
Mrs. Brand too had seen and recognized
the sapphires!
The guests have all arrived, the ball is
at its height. Yet still the hero of it is
absent. There is, however, midnight
train that will in all probability bring
him.
"It must. He has never failed me yet,"
saws Lady Valworth, with rather wan
smile, who is feeling hurt and disap-
pointed.
Millicent. who has been going about with
q nervous distressed air all the night has
been regarded as model fiancee by all
her world. Plainly, she is fretting for
her recreant lover. She has more feeling
than they had given her credit for. She
Is not the heartless, soulless creature they
had imagined! Yet her thoughts have
never wandered to Grant; they have
been centered on the pretty, happy crea-
ture, who, with the stolen sapphires
living on her bosom, has been blissfully
unconscious Of the gathering storm that
Is so soon to break upon her.
Duran had made it first care to learn
the cause of Miss Grey's desire to get rid
of Nadine as soon as her glance fell upon
her in the ball room. What he had been
told since by Millicent had led him at once
to q knowledge of the truth. He was al
resdy aware Of the suspicion about the
diamond cross worn by Nadine the night
before. It is now impossible to him to
disbelieve but that this lover Of Madness
this Paul Annerley-had something to
do with the robberies both of the dia-
monds from Valworth, and the famous
sapphires from Park lane. If this be
true! If this be provedi He is angry
with himself for the wild thrill Of Joy
that rushes through every pulse, as this
thought suggests itself and takes root
within his breast. If it prove true!
Why then Nadine will be free! This
man, Annerley, will be compelled to ny
from the face of the law, and she Will be
left behind for him-Duran-and Tor
love!
But then the shame to herl The
awakening to the sorrow OF her lovers
infamy. Sooner or later it must be told
to her, but should the task be left to rude
tongues who had no love for herr, A
thousand times no. Be the man falsely
suspected, or be he in reality the one
who has stolen the jewels, 1t is 1mpossi-
BILE that Nadine should be left to learn OF
the suspicion resting upon him from
strangers. He-will tell her.
He has led her into a small conserva-
tory leading off the tea room, which,
being rather public, has been deserted
by those desirous of uttering or hearing
tender passages. The upper end or IL,
overlooking in daytime garden De.
meath, is quite removed from the gaze or
those in the room outside, and Duran, as
Nadine sinks upon low couch, seats
himself beside her.
A dim lamp, shaded to subdued pink,
sheds a warm but indistinct light
around. The perfume of the dying roses
fills the air. From far away the music
comes to them-rising, falling, swelling,
fainting, until all the night seems full
of it.
Nadine, stopping toward him, lays her
hand on his.
"You arc troubled?' she says, softly.
II can see 1t in your eyes. Something Is
making you sorry"
Her eyes, deep and brilliant as stars,
are looking mournfully into his. He
possesses himself of the hand she has
held out to him, believing him in trouble,
and holds it fast.
"It is true. There is perplexity In my
heart, and suspicion Of coming sorrow,
but it is for you" he answers, gently.
"For mel! A little startled look creeps
into her lovely face.
"Tell me-tell me exactly says Duran.
leaning forward 80 that he can see her
face more clearly; "ten me, for your own
sake, how you became the possessor OF
that sapphire heart that lies upon your
neck
"What strange question" cries she,
paling. "It was given met was pres
ent from Paul Annerley.
"And the diamond cross you wore last
night-he gave you that also?
eyes; he gave me both. She has grown
very white, and her large eyes nrc filled
with a painful uncertainty. "Why do
you question me about them!" she says.
''Is it strange that I should have such
pretty thingss. did not want them-l
do not care for them. But why is it
stranger
''The strangeness does not lie in your
having them," returns Duran, still hold
ing her hand fast, though she had tried
to take it from him. "It lies in the fact
that this Paul Annerley gave them to
YOU"
"Where did he get them?"
"Ah! explain yourself!' implores she,
rising to her feet and drawing back from
him. "Your face, your voice, betray
you! There is something terrible yet to
be said. Say itn'
''There is this, " says Duran, rising also.
"The diamond cross you wore last night
WAS stolen from Lady Valworth; the sap
phires you wear tonight are part of the
sapphire set that was taken from Miss
Grey in Park lane!"
CHAPTER Xxx.
A silence, intense, horror stricken, fol-
lows on his words. Miss Roche has fallen
back from him, and is now leaning
against the wall, with her hands clasped
upon her bosom, and her eyes, large and
affrighted, fixed on his.
"Stolenn she says, the words coming
with difficulty through her white lips.
"Do they think stole themH' She
shrinks backward against the wall as
though she would fain sink through it,
E.